I don’t think I’ve ever before encountered a corporation as transparent as is LEEDCo. Carolyn Boyce, Community Outreach, has been open-handed about referring me to documents and sites to read the various studies determining the feasibility and projections of the Pilot Project.

From everything I’ve fact-checked, the company’s claims are rooted in studies conducted with a rigorously scientific methodology by agencies outside LEEDCo.

THE PROJECT TEAM In 2009, LEEDCo was created as a non-profit public/private business driving the development of offshore wind in Lake Erie.

Members include Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Lake and Lorain Counties, the City of Cleveland, the Cleveland Foundation and NorTech (a regional non-profit focused on advanced energy business creation).

The mission is to establish and grow the offshore wind industry, to leverage the region’s manufacturing and technology expertise–thus enabling cost reductions– and to capture economic development benefits.

LEEDCo understands its goals must be driven by a world-class consortium with the resources that can build a robust offshore wind industry. And that’s exactly how I’d describe their consortium. Take a look:

THE CONSORTIUM Project Development and Owner: Freshwater Wind, formerly known as Great Lakes Ohio Wind, LLC or Glow

Bechtel involved with the perpetual expansions at McCarran Airport, the second-largest airport in the world for destination travel

Bechtel Corporation, one of the largest engineering and construction firms in the world, has a long and impressive track record of completing massive and complex projects (I think this is a somewhat restrained description for a company that built Hoover Dam and the tunnel under the English Channel.)

Cavallo Energy, a Houston-based energy development company that finances and manages complex energy projects throughout North America (They’re building a megascale solar project in the Mojave Desert and a high voltage transmission line under the Hudson River.)

Great Lakes Wind Energy, a leading offshore wind developer in the US, with experienced personnel from Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey

5-8 GE 4.1 MW direct drive offshore wind turbines to be installed in Lake Erie. See that little green thing standing on the top platform? That’s a full-scale person.

Equipment and Finance: General Electric, one of the largest corporations in the world and leading supplier of wind turbines in the U S

NASA Glenn Research Center Case Western Reserve University National Renewable Energy Laboratory The Ohio State University The University of Toledo Bowling Green State University Lorain County Community College Cleveland State University

My Take: The extent of such cooperation and collaboration on the LEEDCo Pilot Project is unprecedented. This truly regional effort is endorsed by municipalities, their citizens, businesses, port authorities and state agencies.

Maybe it’s because there’s a new kid in town: an energy company with a mission that reaches beyond the narrow promptings of profit.

I responded to your question in an email to your gmail account, but it bounced back. Please tell my the name of your city & state so I know what resources are available to you. Email me at clement@ncweb.com.

I salute you for your interest in green living and thank you for following my blogs. Two more coming up this week re. the offshore wind turbines.